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Mother’s Day storm hammers Cape Region beaches

Strong northeast winds, high tides and rough seas pound the dunes for days on end
High winds and rough seas hit Delaware’s coastline over Mother’s Day weekend. At the north end of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, the dune has been washed away beyond the dune fencing. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Chris Flood
May 9, 2022

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

High winds and big waves from the Mother’s Day storm of 2022 pounded beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay.

In Rehoboth Beach, several feet of the oceanside dune washed away at the northern end of the Boardwalk, revealing and tearing down dune fencing.

In Lewes, the dune line took another major hit, and most of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control fence was destroyed. Left behind from the storm are 10-to 12-foot drop-offs in many areas. The main Lewes Beach parking lot had to be closed because of drifting sand.

In Broadkill Beach, the new dune system held up and protected houses, but the beach and dunes suffered major erosion.

The damage may not be done. The National Weather Service called for sun and sustained winds at 30 mph through Monday. Sun is in store for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the NWS, but so are continued winds out of the northeast.

 

Fence poles are piled up from the destroyed DNREC fence along the Lewes Beach duneline near Roosevelt Inlet. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Massive cliffs are left behind along Broadkill Beach looking south toward the Lewes area. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
These cedar posts along the Rehoboth Beach dune are roughly 8 feet tall. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Storm damage reveals the nearly 18-inch-long spikes that hold beach mats in place in Rehoboth Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Some boater isn’t going to be happy when they come across this boat-sinker. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Easterly winds pounded the coast for days, including Monday after the storm had blown through. The flag at Obie’s By The Sea along the Rehoboth Boardwalk indicates the damage could get worse. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
With the Henlopen Condominium and Hotel in the background, the northernmost Boardwalk entrance to the beach sustained a significant amount of damage. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Storm damage reveals what happens to fencing after being in the sand for years along Rehoboth Beach. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO
Sand covers the Lewes Beach parking May 8 lot forcing city officials to close it. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
For the second time over two seasons, the duneline fence along Lewes Beach will need to be rebuilt. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Broadkill Beach suffered another round of beach and dune erosion thanks to the Mother’s Day nor’easter. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The entire duneline along Broadkill Beach suffers damage after two days of high tides, waves and wind. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The wind, with gusts topping 50 miles per hour, was strong enough to topple this DelDOT message board on Savannah Road in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A City of Lewes garbage truck blocks access to the main beach parking lot. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

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